Turning a Video-Game Obsession Into a Car-Racing Career

Nick McMillen has been playing Gran Turismo since it came out for the PlayStation in 1997. He was four at the time. Years later McMillen quit his day job to compete in the Nissan GT Academy, and the decision paid off: He emerged as last season's academy champion. This year's GT Academy kicked off on April 21, and McMillen talked with PopMech about how to make the transition from virtual racing to professional driving.

Give me a basic overview of the GT Academy. What was the process like from when you got there to winning the championship?

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It all begins with the time trial. The first day was basically playing video games against each other. They keep everything secret. We're all tucked into a room [in New York City] together. The next day, Saturday, was extra confusing. We went on a bus. We ended up going two or three hours out to the middle of nowhere. They had us run around the track at the Monticello race track. Judges were in the cars with us around the track and judging our driving. They're treating you like a potential athlete instead of just a video-game player.

After that we spent a week on Silverstone. [We] got to meet some of the past winners and know the process [and] how everything is going for them. The next day was a test day. We didn't get to drive anything. [We] did some physical fitness. They're judging you as soon as they take you up to the airport. Be on your best behavior. They will judge you and ask you questions and everything.

Monday was terrible because Monday was the crazy mud course thing. We were up super early. They don't tell you anything. We had a list of what to wear and when we're leaving. Sure enough, we get into the van and show up at the mud course. You have to work together as a team and really make sure to stick together and work together. A couple guys got yelled at for taking off and trying to take the course on their own. That kinda set the tone for the week. The next challenge was basically you get to drive for a little bit, take a pit stop and everyone had a job to do, what would almost be like a miniature race. Through the whole week you wake up in the morning trying to figure out what you're going to do. Everything's secretive.

What were some of the other challenges?

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I'd say the [most fun] challenge we had was the banger racing. We basically ran Nissan Micras and just got to slam into each other all over the place. That was so much fun, the best part of the week. I feel bad for the guys that didn't get to make it to that part. Wednesday is when I started to shine among the others. Thursday we did the banger racing. Another challenge was like a second time trial. You want to improve, of course, on the second time trial. You want to prove that you're learning and improving and listening.

The final race the next day was early morning. We had a beep test, which I can't stand. Brings me back to middle school running back and forth. Then just kinda going into the final race. [We went] for laps with four of the judges. They would try to help us out and give us tips. And I think I ran the fastest lap on the last lap.

I played the first Gran Turismo. It came out in 1997. I was four at that point.

What was your video-game racing setup like? Did you try to get it as close to a real driver's seat as possible?

I wish. I do have a shifter and a custom setup that my dad built. It definitely helps having the pedals. It transforms the game and makes it a lot more fun with the steering and pedals.

What was the setup like at the academy? Are there more advanced simulators or still PlayStations running Gran Turismo?

It was straight-up PlayStation running GT 5. I played on it the year previous so I had some experience. We had cool little custom races. Luckily this year we had headphones. The year before we didn't. You couldn't tell when you had to shift or if your wheels were peeling out.

What was your first impression when you got to the academy? Was it a little intimidating with all the gamers vying for the championship?

Yeah, I showed up there and you don't know what to expect. You're trying to see who has the most experience. Some of them have plenty of driving experience. You're really trying to eye everyone up. You're trying to meet some of the judges who seem more important than some of the others. Keep a good face on and say the right things. Make sure you meet everybody and say hi and thank you. You try to meet everybody who's involved in the whole process. That could be one more person who's rooting for you when it comes to winning the competition.

Are there any advantages to training on video games as opposed to traditional track racing?

Nothing's going to beat actual seat time in a real car on a real track. As for me and the rest of the GT academy, I find the biggest advantage is to learn the tracks. You can look at datahow you're braking, if you're steering smoothly, or if it's really choppy[and] just fine-tune how you drive. And you don't have to worry about crashing.

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What's the biggest adjustment you had to make between racing on a PlayStation and hitting the track in the real world?

That's always such a hard question because for me I had some track experience in karting beforehand. The game was just an opportunity to get to the end result because I couldn't afford it otherwise. It helps [you to] see what techniques work and what don't. They've done such a good job of applying the driving physics in the game that it's not that different from a real car.

What advice do you have for others who want to make the jump from video-game racing to pro driving?

Compete in the GT Academy if you think you have a shot this year. [Make] sure you're getting your physical fitness. Make sure you're in shape. If you have the opportunity at some point to hop in a car, that's something to look for. Do whatever you can to have real track experience. You learn so much just from being behind the wheel of something. Try to do whatever you can to go racing or talk to as many people as you can. If you have that track experience and that drive, you might find that person one day who's willing to give you a shotand you better be ready for it.

How did your first professional race go?

It went well. My first professional race was the 24 Hours Dubai in January, and that went better than expected. That was a big confidence boost.

When's your next race?

Next race is Silverstone. That'll be a good home-track advantage for us because we've already done so many laps on it. I think it'll be good fun.

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